PBQtah 9 2026

Just 6.74 seconds separated the entire podium in 3x3x3 Blindfolded at PBQtah 9 2026, delivering one of the tightest finishes of the season. Elliot Pimentel claimed the top spot in the finals with a sharp single of 1:07.43, narrowly holding off Canyon Pettitt, who took second place in 1:12.26. Gavin Tenney pressed both competitors right to the line, locking up third place in 1:14.17. Across two rounds of memory-intensive solving, the margin between gold and bronze remained razor thin, setting an intense tone for the entire single-day meet.

Held on March 14, 2026, the cubing competition brought together 15 dedicated solvers at the Sorenson Student Center in Orem, Utah, USA. The program featured five challenging events spread over six rounds, testing competitors in specialized formats that go far beyond standard speed cubing. From blindfolded puzzles to move-efficiency trials, the gathering highlighted technical discipline and mental endurance. Pimentel set the standard in the headline blindfolded bracket, navigating the field of 14 competitors to capture the victory.

Beyond the blindfolded drama, Canyon Pettitt produced a commanding performance in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves to take first place. Pettitt delivered a winning average of 31.33 across the event, bolstered by a best single solution of 28 moves. The battle for the remaining podium places in the event finished in an exact tie, with Elliot Pimentel and Steven Morrise both registering averages of 36.67 to share second and third on the leaderboard. The efficiency contest drew 14 competitors, each analyzing scrambles to find the shortest possible route to a solved Rubik's Cube.

In the extended test of the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event, Trent Corbin Rundquist secured first place with an impressive performance of 7/11 solved within 56:16. Rustin Haderlie finished second with 2/3 points completed in 23:12, while Damian Wilding claimed third place with a 2/4 result in an even 30:00. Memorizing and executing multiple blind solves in a single hour demands total concentration, and Rundquist pace gave him a comfortable cushion at the top of the 12-competitor bracket.

The heavy blindfolded categories brought extreme challenges across the board at PBQtah 9 2026. In 4x4x4 Blindfolded, Canyon Pettitt, Gavin Tenney, Elliot Pimentel, Samuel Baird, Damian Wilding, Steven Morrise, Trent Corbin Rundquist, and Rustin Haderlie all finished with DNF results in the single-round contest. A similar outcome unfolded in 5x5x5 Blindfolded, where Samuel Baird, Canyon Pettitt, Steven Morrise, Trent Corbin Rundquist, and Gavin Tenney all recorded DNF attempts, demonstrating the unforgiving nature of solving large cubes without sight.

Away from the top of the podium, several solvers achieved major personal milestones that the final standings do not fully reveal. Harrison Rex Wride achieved a significant breakthrough in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, lowering his personal best single to 39 moves, an improvement of 18.8 percent over his previous mark of 48 on his way to a fourth-place finish. Miles LeBlanc also made notable progress in the same discipline across his three events, cutting his best move count to 43 from 52, which was 17.3 percent faster. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, Akoy Gregory dropped his personal best single to 2:13.72, outpacing his prior record of 2:38.59 by 15.7 percent while tackling three events.

First-time attempts in complex disciplines also defined the day for under-the-radar participants. Glen Goddard entered three events at the competition and completed his first ever official attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a time of 6:45.90, alongside a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind. Benjamin McConkie stepped up for his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, successfully recording a 35-move solve to earn 10th place. Cade Beck took on three separate events, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, while Joey Day concentrated on 3x3x3 Fewest Moves and secured ninth place overall.

The results from the Sorenson Student Center showcase the depth of local speedcubing talent in Utah for 2026. Across all five events, competitors pushed their limits in high-stakes disciplines where the slightest miscalculation can mean the difference between a solved cube and a DNF. With official WCA competition rankings updated, these 3x3 results and blindfolded achievements provide solid momentum as the community prepares for the upcoming events on the regional calendar.

Organizers delivered a smooth, focused schedule throughout PBQtah 9 2026, giving every solver the platform to test their memory and spatial reasoning. From Elliot Pimentel narrow blindfolded victory to the first-time milestones logged across the roster, the day proved that intense competition and individual progress go hand in hand. Solvers now head back to practice, ready to refine their algorithms and tackle their next competitive challenge.